SINGAPORE, MAR. 19, 2010— Jones Lang LaSalle has announced the firm has bolstered its global capital markets platform with the hiring of three long-standing industry experts to lead its Americas Real Estate Investment Banking (REIB) business and assume executive leadership roles for the firm’s Americas Capital Markets business. Thomas O. Fish, Michael J. Melody and Thomas J. Melody will steer the firm’s Americas REIB business as Executive Managing Directors. The trio will partner with Americas Capital Markets President Jay Koster and the Capital Markets leadership team to help drive the expansion of the firm’s overall Americas Capital Markets business.

Fish and both Melodys will focus on expanding and driving a REIB business that currently has a foothold in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C., with an emphasis on helping create a fully integrated investment sales and REIB business across the Americas. The REIB business incorporates debt/equity origination & placement, equity fund raising, resolution strategies, loan/note sales and investment advisory services.

“In the past six months, Jones Lang LaSalle has moved aggressively to build an industry-leading Americas Capital Markets business, which will complement our strong Capital Markets business throughout the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions and our dominant global Hotels Capital Markets business. Building a dominant REIB business is a critical component of our overall Americas Capital Markets strategy,” said Koster.

“We are committed to being a significant market player, and attracting these senior leaders to our platform is clear evidence that our dominant global brand, strong financial position and expanding Americas local markets business create a unique opportunity for the best of the best in our industry,” added Bill Krouch, Chief Executive Officer of Americas Markets.

Stuart Crow, head of Capital Markets for Asia Pacific comments "this further strengthens our global connectivity in the real estate Capital Markets and Corporate Finance area, and compliments the initiatives we have taken in Asia over recent years to provide services beyond traditional investment brokerage".

Melody, Fish and Melody, who recently departed CB Richard Ellis, will be based in Jones Lang LaSalle’s Houston office, where they plan to build a strong base of operations for the Americas REIB business.

“The addition of Tom, Mike and Tom is a huge coup for our Americas Capital Markets business and our clients who know the talent these gentlemen possess,” said Dan Bellow, Houston Market Director for Jones Lang LaSalle. “They have been consistent top revenue producers every year for well over a decade, and have a deep history of driving and leading businesses. We expect they will create critical intersections between Capital Markets and our other businesses. We intend to leverage their capabilities to our clients’ maximum benefit.”

With more than 75 years experience between them, the trio has been responsible for the completion of more than $20 billion in debt and equity transactions over the past decade. The three principals have a long history operating as strategic partners, with the Melodys having formerly helped build L.J. Melody & Company in its pre-CBRE days. Fish, whose friendship with the Melodys dates back more than 30 years, joined the team in 1996 upon CB Commercial’s acquisition of L.J. Melody & Company. Collectively, following the acquisition, they helped develop L.J. Melody & Company into one of the nation’s largest real estate investment banking firms. L.J. Melody & Company changed its name to CBRE Melody in 2005.

Mike Melody, Tom Melody and Tom Fish each served as Vice Chairmen of CBRE, and individually held various positions during their CBRE tenure including Co-CEOs of the Debt and Equity Finance Group, President of CBRE Capital Corp and head of the Southwest Region for the Debt and Equity Finance Group.